Container handling and transporting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A trash container with a bustle and a bustle actuator is removeably carried on a vehicle with a tiltable chassis. The container has a generally box like configuration and a moveably trash compacting side pivotally connected to the container. The vehicle chassis has a pivotally mounted compactor arm adapted to cooperate with the pivotally moveable compacting side of the trash container such that the compactor arm alternately opens and closes the moveable side of the container for compacting trash therein. A ledge structure on the vehicle chassis supports the pivotal axis of the moveable side of the container in co-axial alignment with the pivotal axis of the compactor arm. The container is moved on and off of the chassis by tilting the chassis and connecting the compactor arm to the container by a chain. A crusher is pivotally mounted on the trash container to force trash downwardly into the container. Inclined racks are provided for supporting the containers when they are not on a vehicle. A haul truck with a tiltable container support portion is adapted to carry a plurality of the containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In municipal areas, the collection of trash by large vehicles hasgenerally posed a problem in that the trash collecting vehicle mustleave the particular municipal area each time the trash collecting binthereof is full. The conventional large trash collecting vehicles alsorequire considerable labor in that the vehicle requires a driver andusually two additional workers for the loading of trash from the usualdomestic trash receptacles into the receiving area of the large trashcollection vehicle bin. In many municipal areas, there is not sufficientroom in alleys and other narrow driveways for the storage of trashcollecting bins and therefore, in such areas, the small household trashor conventional garbage cans are used due to limited space, and in suchareas the usual front loader vehicle which picks up large containers isnot operable due to the limited space as aforementioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a trash container and compactor for trashcollecting vehicles and more particularly to compact trash collectingvehicles which are capable of operating rapidly and efficiently inconfined space, such as narrow alley ways, where trash must be collectedfrom the usual and conventional domestic garbage can or trash container;the trash container of the invention being removeably carried on a smallhighly maneuverable vehicle chasis and the container having onepivotally moveable side serving as a compactor side and this compactorside is pivotally mounted on a generally horizontal axis near theforward lower portion of the container which faces a forward portion ofthe vehicle and which is thus adapted to be opened in a forwarddirection and to receive trash from a front loader capable of handlingsmall domestic garbage cans or trash containers. The compactor side ofthe aforementioned container, at its pivotal axis, is held on the chasistemporarily in alignment with the pivotal axis of a compactor actuatorwhich is power operated on the vehicle chasis. The alignment of the axisof the compactor actuator and the moveable compactor side of thecontainer allows the compactor side of the container to move forward atits upper edge away from the container to receive trash and thenbackwards toward the container for compacting the trash. The compactoractuator is also provided with pivotally mounted crusher means whichsubstantially coincides, at its pivotal axis, with the upper edge of thecompactor side of the container such as to compact trash downwardlybefore the compactor actuator moves the compactor wall of the containerbackwardly for compressing trash therein. Connected to the compactorside of the container, are a pair of quadrants which slide inward andoutward relative to opposite sides of the container so as to enclose thetriangular spaces at opposite generally vertical edges of the compactorside of the container as it moves forward. Additionally, theaforementioned crusher is foraminous and coupled thereto are a pair ofmoveable side screens adapted to traverse forward and backwardlyrelative to the upper portion of the trash container, as the compactorside of the container is moveable; the aforementioned screens beingupstanding generally above the container and provide a shield whichprevents wind from scattering trash while it is being dumped into thetrash container preliminary to the operation of the aforementionedcrusher, which forces the trash downwardly to a position behind thecompactor wall of the container, whereupon it may be moved backward intoa compacting position by means of the aforementioned compactor actuator.

The vehicle chasis on which the trash container of the invention isremoveably mounted is provided with an articulated steering chasishaving a vertical steering axis which is disposed generally below andgenerally in alignment with an area near the front side of the containerwhen on the vehicle chasis such that a front loader on the vehicleaccurately dumps trash from domestic receptacles generally over thepivotal steering axis of the vehicle and thus always coinciding with theopen compactor side of the container, even though the vehicle may be invarious pivoted positions such as steering sharply to the right or tothe left.

When a trash container of the invention is full and the trash iscompacted therein, the container may readily be removed from the chasisand placed on a storage rack for larger vehicles to transport to thedump. This is accomplished by very simple disconnection of the compactoractuator from the moveable side of the container and also displacementof the simple holding means of the chasis, which holds the container inplace; this being a recessed ledge structure adapted to resist thecompaction force of the compactor actuator as it moves the moveable sideof the container backward during compaction of trash in the container.

The container is also provided with an openable bustle at the rearwardportion thereof such that the trash from the container may be dumped bypivoting the pivotal frame of the chasis upward into a rearwarddeclining position during which time the bustle is opened allowing thetrash to be dumped from a container. In this manner, the trash containerand compactor for trash collecting vehicles may be used in a municipalarea with a storage yard for receiving the trash from the container eachtime the bustle is opened and the trash is dumped in the storage yardwhere it may later be handled by large vehicles or this facility of thebustle in connection with the container may be used at a conventionalcity dump which is adjacent to a municipal area.

Novel means of the invention is provided for actuating theaforementioned bustle either by hydraulic cylinder operated mechanism orby conventional mechanical linkage which is coupled to the basic vehicleframe such that the linkage is capable of motivating actuation of thebustle as the tiltable portion of the vehicle chasis is tilted upwardlyat its forward portion into a rearwardly declining position.

The invention also comprises novel means for loading and unloading thetrash container of the invention relative to a tiltable portion of thevehicle chasis and this means includes the use of the compactor actuatorwhich compacts trash in the container for initially pulling the trashcontainer onto the tilted vehicle chasis into a position thereon suchthat a pivoted compactor wall of the trash container is in alignmentwith the pivotal axis of the compactor actuator whereupon the compactoractuator may be latched to the moveable side of the container and may beready for operation. The means for loading the container on the tiltablevehicle chasis comprises a chain and this chain is initially used topull the trash container from the ground up onto the inclined portion ofthe vehicle chasis and furthermore, the compactor actuator is providedwith a pivoted crusher which is pivoted to the upper portion thereof,and the chain may be operated by the pivoted crusher which is poweroperated by hydraulic cylinder means or the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a trashcontainer and compactor for trash collecting vehicles which istemporarily carried on a chasis of a vehicle during which time a pivotedside of the container is power operated by a compactor actuator on thechasis of the vehicle for compacting trash therein; the pivoted side ofthe container having a pivotal axis coinciding with that of thecompactor actuator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel trash containerand compactor which is removeably mountable on a vehicle and whichemploys a pivoted side at the forward portion of the container as acompactor and which also has an unloading bustle pivoted to the rearwardportion of the container for opening the container at the rearwardportion and dumping trash therefrom after trash has been received by thecontainer and compacted therein with the forward and rearward pivotalmovements of the compactor wall or side of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel trash collectingsystem using a small highly maneuverable vehicle which handles usualdomestic garbage cans or trash containers and which is able to handlesuch containers in small narrow alleyways or the like and whicheconomically loads the trash into trash containers and compacts thetrash therein such that the containers may readily be removed from thevehicle and later transported in mass or in plurality by larger handlingvehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel articulatedsteering vehicle chasis and trash container and compactor in which thecontainer and compactor is removeable from the chasis and when disposedon the chasis is such that the trash receiving area of the container isover the vertical pivotal axis of the articulated steering mechanism ofthe vehicle such that a front loader mounted on the vehicle will delivertrash over the pivotal axis and at all times direct the dumping of trashinto the container due to the fact that its receiving area is alwaysgenerally over said pivotal axis. Thus, regardless of the steeringattitude of the vehicle's chasis, the front loader thereof will alwaysdump trash containers directly into the trash container and compactorcarried on the vehicle chasis.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trash container andcompactor for trash collecting vehicles having a trash containerprovided with novel bustle means for opening the container at therearward portion thereof and novel means for actuating the bustle,either hydraulically or by means of power actuated mechanism or by meansof linkage operable relative to the tilting of a portion of the chasisrelative to the basic frame of the chasis, such that when the containercarried on the tiltable portion is tilted up to an incline, the linkageautomatically is actuated to open the aforementioned bustle.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from thefollowing specification, claims and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trash collecting vehicle showing thetrash container and compactor of the invention thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the vehicle chasis andtrash container as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken from the line 3--3 FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the samedirection as that shown in FIG. 2 and illustrating various operatingpositions of the compactor side of the trash container and details ofthe compactor actuator of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the trash container and vehicletaken substantially as shown in FIG. 2 but on reduced scale and showingthe front loader of the vehicle in position to dump trash into theforward portion of the trash collecting container when the compactorside thereof is pivoted into open position;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the compactor side of thetrash container moved rearwardly by the compactor actuator thereof tocompress trash in the container;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing a subsequent operationwherein a crusher mounted on the compactor actuator of the inventionforces trash downwardly into the container after the compactor side ofthe container has been moved rearwardly to compress trash therein;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from line 10--10of FIG. 3 showing latch mechanism adapted for connecting the compactorside of the container of the invention with a compactor actuator on thechasis of the related vehicle;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view similar to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 butshowing a tiltable portion of the vehicle chasis tilting the containerinto a rearwardly declining position for unloading the container fromthe vehicle chasis;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view taken from the line 12--12 of FIG. 10showing disengagement of the compactor actuator relative to the pivotedcompactor side of the container; and

FIG. 13 shows a progression from FIG. 11 in which the container is beingslideably removed downwardly onto the ground from a rearwardly decliningportion of the vehicle chasis;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a container of the invention andits related vehicle wherein a chain is coupled to the container while onthe ground and the chain is also coupled to the compactor actuator suchthat the power operated compactor actuator may pull the containerupwardly onto the inclined portion of the vehicle chasis;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 and showing a progression of theloading of the container onto the vehicle chasis from that as shown inFIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view showing the completion of the loadingof the container on the vehicle chasis and wherein the container isbeing pulled into position wherein the compactor side of the containerat its pivotal axis is aligned with the pivotal axis of the compactoractuator;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the ledge locking of thecontainer on the vehicle chasis and also the relative disposition of thepivotal axis of the compactor side of the container in alignment withthe compactor actuator pivotal axis;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the container and the vehiclewherein the container is pivoted into a rearwardly declining positionand a bustle of the container is opened for dumping the trash from theinterior of the container;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the vehicle and the trashcontainer being unloaded therefrom onto storage racks from which thecontainers are loaded in plurality onto large trucks for transportationfrom a domestic or municipal area into the area of the city dump or thelike;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary perspective view of storage rack facilitiesshowing a plurality of the trash containers of the invention storedthereon;

FIG. 21 is a rear end view of a large truck capable of carrying severalof the trash containers of the invention thereon and showing suchcontainers carried on the chasis of the large truck;

FIG. 22 is a view showing the chasis of the large truck redepositingcontainers of the invention on storage racks after having been dumped;

FIG. 23 is a rear view of a large vehicle having a tiltable chasisportion tiltable to the side of the truck and dumping trash from a trashcontainer of the invention through the bustle thereof;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the trash container of the inventionshowing pick up means on opposite sides thereof adapted to be engaged byforks of a front loader of a large trash collection truck and showingthe trash collection vehicle of the invention relative thereto;

FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of the modified container of theinvention as shown in FIG. 24 and showing a large forklift front loadertrash collection vehicle relative thereto and also showing the trashcollection of the invention relative thereto;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a mechanicalactuating linkage for operating the bustle of the container of theinvention relative to pivotal movement of a tiltable portion of thevehicle chasis which carries the container;

FIG. 27 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line27--27 of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a side elevational view of a container as shown in FIG. 26but showing the container in normal horizontal position on the vehiclechasis with the bustle thereof closed;

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 29--29 ofFIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the bustle structureof the invention and a mechanical linkage for opening it and showing bysolid and broken lines varying movements of the bustle for unlocking therearward lower portion relative to a latch on the container preliminaryto the movement of the bustle into position such as shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 31 is a view similar to FIG. 26 but showing the entire vehicle withthe container in dumping position with the bustle opened by themechanical linkage in connection therewith;

FIG. 32 is a view similar to FIG. 19 but showing the mechanical linkagefor the bustle disconnected and showing the vehicle with its bed tiltedinto a rearwardly declining position for unloading the container fromthe vehicle chasis after the bustle linkage has been disconnected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a trash container 10 is a generallybox shaped structure having a rearward end 12 and a forward end 14; thetrash container 10 being carried on the chasis 16 of a vehicle 18 havingfront wheels 20 and rear wheels 22. The vehicle 18 is provided witharticulated steering between the front and rear wheels and is steerableabout a vertical axis 24 which tends to intersect the forward portion 14of the container 10 such that a front loader mechanism 26 adjacent thedriver's compartment 28 of the vehicle may consistently move into aposition above the axis 24 or in alignment therewith so as to dump trashcontainers into the forward portion 14 of the container 10 regardless ofthe steering attitude of the front and rear wheels about the axis 24,which is the steering axis of the vehicle 18.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 17 of the drawings, the forward portion 4 ofthe container 10 comprises a compactor side 30 which is pivotallymounted to a lower forward portion of the container about an axis 32which is provided by projecting bearing carriers 34 and 36; the bearingcarrier 34 is provided with a projecting portion 38 and the portion 38is fixed to the framework 40 of the container and the bearing carrier 34is also provided with another projecting bearing carrier 42 which isfixed to the lower forward side of the compactor 30 and a pivot pin 44projects through the bearing carriers 38 and 42 and the pin 44 isaxially aligned with another pin 46 which passes through bearingcarriers 48 and 50 similar to the bearing carriers 42 and 38respectively, and thus the bearing carrier 36 comprises the projectingcarriers 48 and 50 through which the bearing pin extends; the projectingcarrier 50 being secured to the frame 40 of the container 10, while theprojecting carrier 48 being fixed to the compactor side 30 of thecontainer 10.

As shown in FIG. 17, it will be seen that the projecting bearingcarriers 34 and 36, shown in FIG. 3, project forwardly toward theforward portion 14 of the container 10.

It will be seen that the compactor side 30 of the container 10 isprovided with opposite side portions 52 and 54 which are verticallydisposed and coupled to these portions 52 and 54 are quadrant portions56 and 58 respectively which enclose a space therebetween when thecompactor side 30 of the container is moved forward to a position suchas shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings; it being noted that a rear edge 60of the quadrant portion 56 overlaps the respective side 52 of thecontainer 10, while the quadrant 58 shown in FIG. 2 for example overlapsthe respective side 54 of the container 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawings, the container is providedwith an open area 62 between said sides 52 and 54. This open areaextends from a forward upper portion 64 of the container 10 to a portion66 rearwardly thereof as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawings.Thus, when the compactor side of the container 10 is pivoted forwardlyinto the relatively open position as shown in FIG. 6, trash may bedeposited between the compactor side 30 and the extremity of the openarea as indicated at 66 in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The opposite sides 52and 54 of the container, together with the quadrant portions 56 and 58,connected to the compactor side 30 of the container, provides anenclosure or generally vertical wall structure between which the trashmay be deposited in the forward portion of the container 10.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 17, the forward lower portion of thecontainer 10 is provided with a ledge structure 70 which engages arecessed ledge structure 72 in the tiltable vehicle frame structure 16.The ledge structure 70 and 72 maintain the axes of the bearing pins 44and 46 aligned with the axis 32 which is also the pivotal axis of acompactor actuator 74; this compactor actuator 74 being mounted on ashaft 76 which is carried by a forwardly extending bracket 78 fixed to aforward end portion 80 of the vehicle frame structure 16. A hydrauliccylinder 82 is power actuated to pivot the compactor actuator 74 aboutthe axis 32 of the shaft 76. The hydraulic cylinder 82 is stationarilyand pivotally mounted on a pin 84 in connection with a base framestructure 86 of the vehicle 18 and the plunger 88 of the hydrauliccylinder 82 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 90 which is connectedwith the lower portion 92 of the compactor actuator 74 below the axis 32of the shaft 16.

It will be therefore understood that the forward portion of thecontainer 10 comprises the pivoted compactor wall 30 which is pivotallymounted about the bearing pins 44 and 46 which are axially aligned withthe axis 32 of the shaft 76 about which the compactor actuator 74 ispivotally mounted.

Upper arm portions 94 and 96 of the compactor actuator 74 are removeablyconnected to the compactor side 30 of the container 10 by means of latchmechanisms 98 and 100. These are shown in detail in FIG. 10 of thedrawings, wherein the arm portion 94 of the compactor actuator 74 isshown carrying a socket member 102 which is fixed thereto; the socketmember 102 having an opening 104 into which a latch bolt 106 isprojected from a latch frame 108 in which the bolt 106 is slideablymounted. The latch bolt is provided with a handle 110 adapted to beeither in the solid line position as shown in FIG. 10 or in a brokenline position 112 in which case an opposite end 114 of the bolt 106 maybe positioned in a socket member 116 fixed to the frame structure 118 ofthe container 10. Thus, the bolt, at its end 106, may be projected intothe socket 102 or may be projected into the socket 116 whereby thecompactor wall 30 of the container 10 may either be latched to the framestructure 118 of the container 10 or may be latched to the compactoractuator 74 by means of the arms 94 and 96, all as shown in FIGS. 3 and10 of the drawings.

Pivotally mounted in bearings 120 and 122 is a shaft 124 which carries acrusher and compactor structure 126; the bearings 120 and 122 beingmounted on the upper ends of the arms 96 and 94 respectively of thecompactor actuator 74. The shaft 124 being pivoted in the bearings 120and 122 and, as shown best in FIGS. 3 and 6, a hydraulic cylinder 128 ispivotally mounted by means of a pin 130 on the arm 94 and a plunger 132of the cylinder 128 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 134 to anarm 136 which is fixed to the shaft 124 and adapted to pivot the crusher126. This crusher 126 is a foraminous structure consisting of aplurality of strong curved fingers 140 fixed to the shaft 124 and ascreen structure 141 extends part way from the shaft 124 longitudinallyof the fingers 140 so as to provide a wind screen structure. It will beseen that the crusher or compactor structure 126 is pivotally operablefrom a generally vertical position, as shown in FIG. 2, to a rearwardlyand downwardly directed position, such as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 11, sothat upward and downward actuation of the crusher structure about theaxis of the shaft 124 will cause trash to be compacted in the open areaof the container 10 adjacent to the compactor wall 30 and between thequadrant portions 56 and 58, and it will be also understood that whenthe cylinder 82, as shown in FIG. 6, is energized that the compactorwall 30 will be moved rearwardly in a direction of an arrow 139 as shownbest in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

Side screen structures 142 are disposed over opposite sides 52 and 54 ofthe container 10 and over upper edge portions 144 and 146 of thequadrant portions 56 and 58 respectively of the moveable wall structureof the container.

The wind screen structures 142 are each pivotally connected at 148 whichis the axis of the shaft 124 about which the crusher 126 is pivotallymoveable. It will be seen that opposite ends of the shaft 124 carryfixtures 150 and 152, each of which carries a forward portion 156 of arespective wind screen 142 and each wind screen 142 is provided with arower 158 at its lower portion which traverses upper edges of thequadrants 56 and 58, namely the respective upper edges 144 and 146.These rowers 158 also traverse upper edges 160 and 162 of the sideportions 52 and 54 of the container 10.

Thus, the wind screens 142 move forwardly and backwardly toward theforward portion 14 of the container 10 or toward the rearward portion 12of the container 10 as the compactor actuator 74 actuates the compactorside 30 of the container.

The wind screens 142 and the wind screen portion 141 of the crusher 126prevent trash from being blown away from the upper open area of thecontainer when trash is being loaded thereinto, as best indicated inFIG. 7 of the drawings by means of the front loader mechanism 26 of thevehicle 18. This front loader mechanism 18 is adapted to grasp aconventional household trash receptacle or garbage can and to move itupwardly, backwardly and into and upsidedown position over the forwardupper open area of the container 10 when the compactor wall 30 thereofis moved and pivoted to a forward position about the axis 32 ashereinbefore described.

In operation, the compactor structure hereinbefore described is partlyretained by a removeable container which is readily removeably carriedon the chasis of the vehicle 18 and the remaining portion of thecompactor mechanism is carried and pivotally mounted directly on thechasis of the vehicle 18. Thus, the compactor wall 30, pivoted to theforward lower portion of the container 10, is readily and easily coupledto the compactor actuator 74 by the hereinbefore described latches 98and compaction of trash in the container 10 is accomplished ashereinbefore described as the trash is dumped into the container by thefront loader 26 with the compactor wall 30 in open position, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawings. When the trash builds up in thecontainer, it is forced rearwardly by pivotal action of the compactoractuator 74 by operation of the hydraulic cylinder 82 which pivots thecompactor actuator 74 and the compactor wall 30 rearwardly; and when thetrash builds up to a level above the upper edges 144 and 146 of thequadrants 56 and 58, the crusher 126 is pivoted about the axis of theshaft 124 to thereby move the crusher 126 in the direction of an arrow127 which forces the trash backwardly and downwardly between the screens142 and this crusher 126 may be actuated initially before the compactorwall 30 is moved rearwardly and may again be operated after thecompactor wall has reached its rear most position such as shown in FIG.9 of the drawings.

When the container 10 is full and it is desired to remove it from thevehicle and pick up an empty container 10, the latch mechanisms 98 and100 are released to a broken line position such as shown in FIG. 10 ofthe drawings, and the container 10 in loaded condition is then ready tobe removed from the chasis of the vehicle 18.

This procedure is accomplished by means of the tiltable portion 16 ofthe truck chasis wherein the tiltable frame 16 carrying the container 10is pivoted about the axis of a pin 164 carried by a bracket 166 mountedon the axle housing 168 of the vehicle chasis, all as shown best in FIG.6 of the drawings. The tiltable frame portion 16 of the vehicle chasisis pivoted relative to the base frame 170 by means of a hydrauliccylinder 172 which is pivotally mounted on the base frame of the vehicleby means of a pin 174. The hydraulic cylinder 172 is provided with aplunger pivotally connected to a pin common to the axis of the pin 184and fixed to the tiltable chasis portion 16.

As the hydraulic cylinder 172 is energized, the frame 16 is pivotedupwardly and rearwardly into a rearwardly declining position, as shownin FIG. 11, and at this time a release mechanism, as shown in FIG. 4, isactuated by a manual handle 176 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft76 hereinbefore described. This handle 176 pivots a lever 178 whichlifts the ledge portion 70 at the forward lower portion of the container10 upwardly out of interference with the ledge 72 as shown in FIG. 17.Thus, the container 10 is allowed to slide downwardly and backwardlyfrom a position such as shown in FIG. 11 to the position shown in FIG.13 at which time the vehicle 18 may be moved forward and thus leave thecontainer 10 sitting on the ground.

When it is next desired to load another container 10 on the chasis frameportion 16, the vehicle 18 is backed into position adjacent the forwardend 14 of the container 10 with the frame portion 16 in rearwardlydeclining position. A chain 180 is then attached to a chain holdingfixture 182 on the front side of the compactor wall 30 of the container.The chain 180 is connected to another fixture 184 on the crusher 126.The fixtures 182 and 184 are shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings and areconventional bayonet chain receiving fixtures, such that the chain maybe readily connected or disconnected relative thereto. The hydrauliccylinder 128, as shown in FIG. 14, is then energized whereby the crusher126 is pivoted upwardly as shown in FIG. 15 creating tension on thechain 180 and pulling the container 10 upwardly on the pivoted frameportion 16, while at the same time the hydraulic cylinder 82 may beenergized to retract its plunger and move the compactor actuator 74forward. At this time, the cylinder 172 is also energized to bring theframe 16 forward into a horizontal position and slight continued forwardmovement of the compactor actuator 74 then moves the ledge 70 of thecontainer 10 into a position in which it drops in front of the ledge 72.The hydraulic cylinder 82 may then be deenergized, allowing relaxationof the compactor actuator 72 relative to the chain 80 so that it mayhave some slack and be disconnected from the chain holding fixtures 182and 184. The container 10 is then in the forward position as shown inFIG. 17 with the ledge of the container 10 directly in front of theledge 72 of the chasis frame portion 16.

The foregoing mode of operation of filling the container 10 andcompacting trash therein may be commenced as soon as the latchmechanisms 98 and 100 have been latched so as to secure the compactoractuator 74 to the moveable compactor wall 30 of the container 10.

The rearward portion of each of the containers 10 is provided with anopenable bustle 186, as shown best in FIG. 6 of the drawings. Thisbustle is provided with an upper enclosed portion 188 and a rearwardenclosed portion 190 and the upper portion 188 is pivoted by means of apin 192 to the frame portion 194 of the container 10.

The frame 194 is disposed at a downward and rearward declining angle andextends from an area of the pin 192 to a lower rearward corner, asindicated by the reference character 196.

The bustle is capable of swinging to an open position, as indicated bybroken lines in FIG. 6 of the drawings. This is accomplished byenergization of a hydraulic cylinder 198 which is pivoted on a mountingpin 200 which is carried by a lever 202. The lever 202 is pivoted to theside of the container 10 by means of a pin 204 and a stop 206 limitsmovement of the lever 202 which is provided with a catch portion 208engageable with a pin 210 on the side of the bustle 186.

It will be appreciated that a pair of these hydraulic cylinders 198 andrelated latch mechanisms may be on each opposide side of the bustle 186.

The catch 208 of the lever 202, when engaged with a pin 210, hold thebustle 186 closed, and when the hydraulic cylinder 198 is energized, thelever 202 is first pivoted against the stop 206 to pivot the catch 208to the broken line position out of interference with the respective pin10 and then the bustle 186 is pivoted upwardly into the broken lineposition, all as shown best in FIG. 6 of the drawings, which allowstrash to be dumped from the container 10 when the chasis frame portion16 is pivoted upwardly into a rearward declining position with the latchmechanisms 98 and 100 still holding the compactor wall to the compactoractuator 74 and with the ledge structures 70 and 72 still in engagement.Thus, the container 10 may be emptied and retained on the frame 16, allas indicated in FIG. 11 of the drawings, by broken lines.

It will be seen that the cylinder 198 is provided with an extendableplunger 199 pivoted to the bustle 186 by a suitable pivot pin 201 suchas to move the bustle 186 to the broken line position shown in FIG. 11when the hydraulic cylinder 198 is actuated as hereinbefore described.

A modified container bustle mechanism is shown in FIGS. 26, 28 and 30.This modified bustle mechanism is adapted to be used in lieu of thebustle 186 and its actuating mechanism. The modified bustle isdesignated 220 and is provided with pivot trunnions 222 on oppositesides thereof and at opposite sides 52 and 54 of the container 10.

The trunnions 222 are each vertically moveable in a vertical slot 224 ofa respective bracket 226 fixed to each opposite side 52 and 54 of thecontainer 10.

The bustle is provided with an upper enclosed side 228 and an enclosedrear 230. A lower edge portion 232 of the bustle is disposed forwardlyof a rectangular bar 234 at the lower rearward portion of the container10, and the lower edge 232 of the bustle 220 thus is locked in front ofthe bar 234 and adjacent to a frame portion 236 which is downwardly andrearwardly declined at the rearward portion of the container 10. Theframe portion 16 of the vehicle is pivotally mounted by means of a pin238 to a modified stationary frame structure 240 of the vehicle frame; ahydraulic cylinder 242 is pivoted on a pin 244 secured to the stationaryframe of the vehicle and a plunger of the hydraulic cylinder 242 ispivotally mounted on a pin 244 which is carried by the pivoted portionof the frame 16 which pivots upwardly and rearwardly into rearward anddownward declining position as shown in FIG. 26 of the drawings. A link246 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 248 to the stationaryportion 240 of the vehicle frame and an opposite end of the link 246 ispivoted on a pin 250 carried by a lever 252 which is pivoted at 254 onthe frame portion 236 of the container 10. The opposite end of the lever252 from the pin 250 is provided with another pivot pin 256 connected toa rigid link 258 which is stationarily pivoted by means of a stationarypin 260 to the side of the bustle 220.

The bustle 220 is moved to open position, as shown in FIG. 26, byprogressive action, such as shown in FIG. 30, when the pivoted frame 16is pivotally moveable upwardly relative to the stationary frame 240.Thus, the pin 248 remains in stationary position and holds the link 246such that the lever 252 is pivoted on the pin 254 raising the link 258and the bustle 220 with the trunnion sliding upward in the slots 224until the edge portion 232 of the bustle, at its lower portion, clearsthe bar 234 and then, the further pivotal movement of the lever 252 andlink 258 actuates the bustle pivotally about the trunnions 22 into theopen position, as shown in FIG. 26 of the drawings. For displacement ofthe container 10 from the frame 16, as hereinbefore described, it isnecessary to disconnect the link 246 by removing it from the pin 248, asshown in FIG. 27. The link 246 is provided with an eye 247 which fitsover the pin 248 which is carried by the stationary frame 240. A crosspin or retainer pin 262 is removeably disposed in an opening 264 in thepin 248 and serves as a retainer for the eye 247 of the link 246. Thus,the pin 262 must be removed and the link 246 deflected outwardly overthe end of the pin 248 and must be moved to a broken line position 266,as shown in FIG. 28, before the container 10 may be removed from thechasis 16.

It will be noted that a pin 267 similar to the pin 248 may be mounted oneach opposite side 52 and 54 of the container 10 so as to provide meansfor holding the respective links 246. It will be understood thatmechanism shown in FIG. 28 on the side 54 of the container 10 isduplicated on the opposite side 52 thereof so as to provide for uniformactuation and holding of the bustle 220 in either open or closedposition.

In the closed position, the lower edge 232 of the bustle 220 is securelyheld in front of the bar 234 and thus held closed in a positivemechanical manner without any stress on the linkage or latch mechanismfor the bustle 220.

As shown in FIG. 31, the bustle 220 is in open position and the tiltableframe portion is tilted into a position which is downwardly andrearwardly declining so that trash may be emptied from the trashcontainer 10 and so that the container 10 may again be filled. Thus, thevehicle 18 may be used to transport trash to a dump area and may becapable of dumping the contents of the container 10 and refilling thesame container 10 without changing containers.

The foregoing mode of operation may be desirable in some areas, whereasin FIG. 23 the vehicle 18 is shown unloading the container 10 onto aninclined rack 270.

The racks 270 may receive the containers 10 when they are full and whenthey are released from the tiltable frame 16 and the compactor actuator74, as hereinbefore described. When the containers 10 are loaded andstored on the racks 270, a plurality of the containers 10 may be locatedon the racks 270, as shown in FIG. 20 of the drawings, and may becontained in a common storage area 272 so as to be picked up by asecondary transport vehicle as will be hereinafter described.

FIG. 18 discloses the container 10 with the bustle 186 as hereinbeforedescribed in open position with the vehicle dumping the container 10 sothat the container 10 may be filled and dumped alternately. Whereas,FIG. 19 discloses the unloading of the respective container 10 onto oneof the racks 270 such as hereinbefore described in connection with FIG.32 of the drawings. Accordingly, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that the container 10 may be retained on the vehicle 18 andloaded and dumped, or several successive containers may be attached tothe frame 16 of the vehicle and to the respective compactor actuator 74as hereinbefore described, and may be detached so that the containersmay be filled and stored on racks 270 or the containers may be dumpedand refilled as desired.

Thus, the trash container 10 is a very versatile mechanism capable ofbeing used in both ways, as hereinbefore described in connection withthe disclosure of FIGS. 18 and 19 and also FIGS. 31 and 32.

As disclosed in FIG. 21, a large transport truck 274 is capable ofhandling several of the containers 10 in loaded condition so as totransport them to a dump and to actuate the bustles for dumping them atone side of the truck chasis, and the large transport truck chasis 274may load or unload several of the containers 10 relative to the racks270 as shown in FIG. 22. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 24, oppositesides 52 and 54 of the container 10 are provided with pickup channels276 and 278 adapted to be engaged by forks 280 of a large front loadermechanism 282 of a large transport truck 284 which is capable ofhandling the contents of a plurality of the containers 10. Thus, thechannels 276 and 278, in FIGS. 24 and 25, provide and capability of thecontainers 10 to be handled by the front loader forks 280 of the frontloader 282 in connection with the large trash transport vehicle 284.Thus, the vehicle 18, shown in FIG. 25, may carry the loaded container10 to the site at which the large vehicle 284 may pick up the container.

The container 10 is first unloaded from the vehicle 18 as hereinbeforedescribed and the large vehicle 284 may, by means of its front loader280, unload the contents of the container 10 and place it back on theground such that it will be available for refilling by operation of thevehicle 10 and the compactor actuator 74 and the crusher 126, all ashereinbefore described.

Reference is made to the front loader mechanism 26, hereinbeforereferred to, and this front loader mechanism 26 is disclosed in detailin applicant's patent application Ser. No. 710,621, Filed 8/2/76, nowabandoned and this disclosure of said copending application is herebyreferred to for the details of the front loader mechanism 26 of thepresent application.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

I claim:
 1. A vehicle chasis; a box like trash container removeablycarried thereon; said container having a compactor side; first pivotalaxis means; said compactor side being pivoted to said container by saidfirst pivotal axis means; second pivotal axis means; a compactoractuator pivotally mounted on said chasis by said second pivotal axismeans; means to selectively couple said compactor actuator to saidcompactor side of said container; and means on said chasis disposed totemporarily hold said container in such position thereon so as totemporarily maintain said first and second pivotal axis means aligned ona common pivotal axis, means on said chassis and said compactor actuatorfor transferring said container relative to said chassis, and means foractuating said compactor actuator.
 2. The invention as defined in claim1, wherein: said vehicle chasis has a forward portion and a rearwardportion; said compactor side of said container being disposed towardsaid forward portion of said vehicle; said trash container having arearward portion; an openable and closeable bustle pivotally mounted onsaid container and adapted to open and close said rearward portion ofsaid container.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: saidvehicle chasis has a forward portion; said compactor side of saidcontainer directed toward said forward portion; said first pivotal axismeans being at a forward and lower portion of said container such thatthe upper portion of said compactor side is pivotally moveable forwardtoward the forward side of said vehicle; and means on the forwardportion of said vehicle disposed and adapted to grasp containers andmove them upwardly, backwardly and into an upsidedown position over saidforward portion of said container when said upper portion of saidcompactor side is pivoted into a forward position.
 4. The invention asdefined in claim 3, wherein: said chasis includes an articulatedsteering mechanism comprising front wheels and rear wheels and verticalaxis pivot means disposed in an intermediate position between said frontwheels and said rear wheels; said vertical axis pivot means beingsubstantially aligned with a forward portion of said container on saidvehicle chasis.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: saidcontainer includes an upper portion, a lower portion, a forward portionand a rearward portion; said first pivotal axis means being at theforward lower portion of said container and said compactor side havingan upper portion pivotally moveable about said first pivotal axis meansto a position in a forward direction beyond the normal forward confinesof said container; said container having a downwardly projecting portionwhich is disposed at said lower portion; and a generally recessed ledgestructure on said chasis adapted to abut and retain said downwardlyprojecting portion of said container such as to maintain said first andsecond pivotal axis means in axial alignment with each other.
 6. Theinvention as defined in claim 2, wherein: said container includes anupper portion, a lower portion, a forward portion and a rearward portionand wherein said bustle is pivotally coupled to said upper portion ofsaid container at a location between said forward and rearward portionsand said bustle is provided with an openable portion which is disposednear said lower and rearward portions of said container; said containerhaving opposite sides; said bustle forming portions of the upper,rearward and opposite side portions of said container; said bustlehaving means for latching it in closed position relative to saidcontainer; a tiltable bed on said chasis on which said container iscarried.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 5, including lever meansfor lifting the forward portion of said container upward so as torelease said downwardly projecting portion from said ledge of saidchasis and to thereby allow said container to be removed from saidchasis.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein: said containerincludes opposite sides; and guide means disposed to provide for laterallocation of opposite sides of said container relative to said chasis. 9.The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said chasis includes atiltable frame portion adapted to be tilted upwardly and backwardly intoa rearwardly declining disposition for slideably unloading saidcontainer from said chasis.
 10. The invention as defined in claim 9,including flexible means adapted to couple said compactor actuator tosaid container for pulling said container upwardly onto said rearwardlydeclining portion of said frame when loading said container thereonto.11. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said compactor side ofsaid container comprises a pair of quadrant portions which pivot intoand out of said container and extend in overlapping relation withopposite sides of said container when said compactor side of saidcontainer is in open position.
 12. The invention as defined in claim 1,wherein: said compactor side of said container includes an upper edgeportion and a lower portion; said first pivotal axis means being locatedgenerally at said lower portion; a trash crusher means pivotally mountedon said upper edge; power operated means for actuating said trashcrusher means in a generally rearward and downward direction toward saidcontainer when said compactor side of said container is in forward openposition.
 13. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: saidcompactor side of said container having an upper edge portion; quadrantportions coupled to said compactor side and extendable into and out ofopposite sides of said container and in overlapping relationshiptherewith; and wind screen means at opposite sides of said containernear said compactor side; and a pivoted trash crusher means pivotallymounted on said upper edge of said compactor side of said container andmeans for power operation thereof in a downward and backward directiontoward said container.
 14. The invention as defined in claim 13,wherein: said trash crusher and compactor means is a foraminousstructure adapted to compress trash downwardly into said container whensaid compactor side is pivoted in open position relative thereto. 15.The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said chasis includes aframe structure which is tiltable on a generally horizontal axis andinto a rearwardly declining position; a plurality of stationary racksrespectively adapted to receive several of said containers from saidtiltable frame portion of said chasis whereby said chasis may unload acontainer on one of said racks by simply tilting the frame portion ofsaid chasis to a rearwardly declining disposition so as to slide therespective container off said chasis and onto a respective inclined rackwhich generally coincides with the declining disposition of said frameportion of said chasis.
 16. The invention as defined in claim 2,including a bustle actuating means disposed to open and close saidbustle; said chasis having a tiltable portion carrying said container;said frame having a stationary portion; and means coupling said bustleactuating means with said stationary portion of said frame, whereby whensaid tiltable portion of said chasis is tilted relative to saidstationary portion of said frame, said bustle is opened relative to saidrearward portion of said container.
 17. The invention as defined inclaim 16, wherein: said bustle includes a lower edge portion; saidcontainer having an upwardly extending bar; said lower edge portionbeing disposed in front of said bar and abutted thereto; said bustleactuating means having a mechanism adapted to raise said bustle untilsaid lower edge clears said bar; and means for pivotally actuating saidbustle into an open position relative to the rearward portion of saidcontainer.